Shaft-centering device.



B J. BUSTILLO Y DIEGO.

SHAFT GENTERING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 4, 1907.

' 91 9,81 9. Patented. Apr. 27, 1909.

RAMON J. BUSTILLO Y DIEGO,'OF HABANA, CUBA.

SHAFT-CENTERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed June 1907. Serial No. 377,277

larly adapted for use in connection with suspended driving shalts of centriiugal mar-- chines, and the objects thereof are to n'cvide a shaft centering device which s all be simple in its construction, strong, e'l'licient in its use, 'autonmtic in its operation, durable, readily set up with respect to the shaft and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consi is of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated intlic accompanyir lrawings wherein is showniheprclerrcd cm .limcntof the in vcntion, but-'it is to be understood that.

changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope ol the claims hereunto appended in describing the invention m detail, refcrcncc'is had to the accompanying drawing wherein is slum u in. elevation and partly in section the adaptationof a centering device in zwcordancc with this invention in connection with a centrifugal machine and furthermore showing by way ol example a means for suspending the sh alt.

In the drawing the reference character 1. designates an outer imperforate casing formed with lateral extensions 3 which are mounted on a support 3. Within the casing 1 is arranged a perforated basket-G connected by a bracket T and collar H'lo a driving or operating shalt t) and by such construction it is evident that when the shaft 9 is revolved motion will be transmitted to the basket 6. The casing l at its top is l'ormcd with an inlet opening 10 which is arranged above an inlet opening 11 formed in the top of the basket (3. An outlet 12 is provided in the casing 1. The shaft 9 projects above and depends below the casing 1 and suspended for rotation through the medium of a cup-shaped member 13 fixed by the hold-fast device 14 to a support 15. The member 13 has its bottom formed with an opening 16. The bottom of the member 13 at the side of the opening 16 i 1 l i l l l l l g l l 1 l l l l l l is' formed in a curvilinear manner as at 17 so as to constitute a seat for an annular flange 18, the flange 18 having its lower face of the same contour as the seat. The annular flange 18 is formedintegral with a collar 19 which extends through the opening 16 and terminates at its bottom in an inwardly ex tending annular flange 20 connected to a vertically extending short sleeve 21. By such an arrangement the collar 19 is suspended upon. the seat formed by the bottom of the member 13 and allows of the flange 18 tilting or rocking upon'its seat, thereby imparting a like movement to the collar 19 and sleeve 21.

Mounted upon the inwardly extending flange 20 is a grooved ring 22 which forms a ball-race for the bearing balls 23 and mount-- ed upon these latter is a sleeve 24- which trurinates at its top in an inwardly extending annular flange 25 fixed to the shaft 9. The

,sleeve 2-11 in connection with the bearing halls flange 2U, collar 19, flange 18 and member 23, constitutes a suspension means for the shaft 9 and further allows of a tilting movement of the shaft from or to a perpendicular position when occasion so requires. The sleeve 24; is interposed between the collar 1t) and sleeve 21 so that it the shaft 9 ills, the sleeve '21 will either engage the sleeve 21 or the collar 19 and. in view of the fact that the collar 19 can tilt or rock upon the bottom ol the member 13, no interruption will be had to the tilting movement of the shaft 9 when it is moved from or to per-- pendicular position. Interposed between the sleeve 21 and shalt 9 is a bearing sleeve 2|. and arrangedin close proximity to the to p of the slcevcfld and :Frved to the shaft- 9 is a clamp 26 to prevent vertical movement in one direction ol the sleeve 24. Secured to the shaft 9 in close proximity to the bottom. ot the collar 19 and sleeve 21 is a disk 27 having its upper face l'ormed'with a vertically extending sleeve- 28 which incloses the collar 19. The poriphcr of the disk 27 is cut away so as to form a shoulder 29 which constitutes a support for-the lower edge of a hand brake used for retarding the motion for the shaft is illustrated by a pulley 54,- the hub 55 of which is loosely mounted upon the shaft '9 and conventionally a clutch mechanism is shown and indicated by the reference characters 62 and 66 for connecting the pulley 54 to the shaft 9. A shifting element 69 for the clutch is also illustrated. Stop collars 72 and 7 3 are also carried by the shaft 9 to arrest the vertical movement of the pulley and the clutch. struction is-shown by way of example so that the adaptation of a centering device with a suspended operating shaft of a centrifugal machine can be thoroughly understood.

No claim to any of the foregoing parts or combination of parts is made herein.

The self-adjusting centering means in accordance with this invention for the shaft 9 and which also constitutes a bearing for the said shaft comprises a cup-shaped receptacle v34 having its inner face near the top thereof formed with an inwardly extending flange 3 5, the upper face of the flange 35 being curved as'at 36 and which constitutes a seat for an annular off-set 37, the lower face of i which corresponds in contour to the shape of the seat formed by the flange 35. The offset 37 is an integral part of a vertically extending sleeve '38 having its lower end closed as at 39 and which is positioned within the receptacle 34v and has mounted therein a bearing sleeve 40 which surrounds the lower end of the shaft 9. The latter atits lower end is formed with a colloidal-shaped recess 41 in which extends a= cone sha'ped bearing member 42 mounted upon a series of antifriction disks 43 seated within the lower portion of the bearing sleeve 40 and upon the bottom 39 of the sleeve 38. The receptacle 34 at its .top is formed with three pairs of laterally extending apertured ears 44 and in each pair of cars 44 is pivoted as at 45 a screw-threaded rod 46. The reference character 47 denotes a radially extending bar.

Three of such bars are provided and each of the bars extends through a radial projection 5 dependingfrom the lower face of the botare of such length as to from the projections screw-threaded rod 49, the

tom 4 of the casing 1. 'lo the inner end of each of the bars 47 is pivoted as-at 48 a latter being adjustably. connected to a rod 46 through the medium of a turn-buckle 50. The bars 47 project outwardly 5 and the outer end of each of the bars 47 is screw-threaded"and carriesa nut 51. Between the latter and a corresponding projection 5 is a .coil spring 52 which surrounds the bars 47. The rods 46 and 49 in .connection with the turn buckles 50 and bars 47 suspend the recc tacle 34 from the bottom of the casing 1 an owing to the, providing of the sleeve 38 with the offset 37, said sleeve 38 can tilt or rock upon the flange 35 so as to assist in moving the shaft 9 to a perpendicular position... Furthermore owing to the mounting of the sleeve 38 within the receptacle 34 and in connection with the elements carried by said sleeve 38, the lower ehd of the shaft 9 is prevented from swinging to any great extent. In such particular it will be stated that the movement of the sleeve would be arrested by the receptacle 34, 'owing to the manner in which said receptacle is connected to the stationary casing 1. "The turn buckles 50 provide means for vertically adjusting the receptacle 34 which in turnwould vertically adjust the sleeve .38 to compensate for wear upon the wall of the bearing sleeve 40 in the bottom of the shaft 9 and also wear upon the cone-shaped bearing 42. The movement; of the bars 47 is cushioned by the springs 52 duringthe centering of the shaft. A shield 53 is carried by the lower end of the shaft .l for protecting the elements within the receptacle 34.

What I claim is 1. A self-adjusting centeriin means for suspended shafts comprising the combina tion with the shaft having a recess in the bottom thereof, of a bearing extending in said recess, a receptaclc,,a series of radially extending automatically shiftable bars, supports for the bars, a pair of members pivotally connected tov the'inner end of each of said bars and to said receptacle, means connecting the members of each )air to adjustably increase or decrease their combined length and means for suspending said bearing within said receptacle, said means being capable of tilting upon said receptacle.

2. A self-adjusting means for suspended shafts comprising the combination. with the shaft having a recess in the bottom thereof, of a bearing extending in said recess, a rc ceptacle, a series of radially extending automatically shiftable b'ars, supports for the bars, a pair of members pivotally connected to the inner end of each of said bars and to said receptacle, means connecting the members of each pair to adjustably increase or decrease their combined length means for sus )ending said hearing within said receptacle, said means capable of tilting upon said receptacle, and means for cushioning said bars durin the shifting movement thereof.

3. A sel adjusting ccnterin means for suspended shafts comprising the combination with the shaft, 'of a pendent cup shaped member, bearing in the cup shaped member and receiving the end of the shaft and supporting means for the cup shaped member coniprising a plurality of radially disposed and shiftable bars and connections pivoted to the inner ends of the bars and to said cup-shaped member at v the upper end thereof.

4. A self adjusting centering means for suspended shafts comprising the combination with the shaft, of a pendent cup shaped bottom thereof, of a bearing extending in' in the'cu meme member, bearing means movably supported 1 shaped member and receiving the end of t e shaft, and supporting means for the cup sha ed member comprisin a piurality of radially disposed and shiftafile bars, connections pivoted to the inner ends of the bars and to said cup shaped member at the upper end thereof and means for adjustably lengthening or shortening said connections. 5. A self-adjusting centerin meanfor suspended shafts comprising tie born?) tion with the shaft having a recess in the said recess, antifriction disks for saidbearing, a movab y supported int e cup-shaped member and suspending said bearing, and supporting means for the cup-shaped member comprlsing a plurality of radially disposed -I inaendent cup-shaped member, means connecting'eac'h pair of opposed rods pivoted to the bars and to said cup-shaped member to adjustably increase or decrease their combined -length.

In testimony whereof {have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witltAMN .l. BUS'llhhO Y DIEGO.

Witnesses:

RICARDO Moms, Vic'u'm LTORMANU. 

